Senior class leaves its mark at Ballard

By Joe Randleman Staff Writer

Wednesday

Mar 6, 2019 at 12:01 AMMar 6, 2019 at 6:02 PM

It wasn't the swan song the Ballard seniors deserved.

Nothing went right for the Bombers in its Class 3A quarterfinal game with Norwalk at the boys' state basketball tournament Tuesday. The Bombers gave up 30 in the first quarter, were down 50-19 at the half and never had a chance in an 81-39 setback.

Ballard had overcome a 4-7 stretch to close out the regular season. Senior forward Kegan Odden was lost to a broken knee cap and Ballard had other players injured or get sick during that period.

The Bombers outlasted Knoxville,(79-60) and Bondurant-Farrar (47-39) in the first two rounds of substate. The in the substate finals they put it all together, upsetting No. 6 Pella in dominant fashion, 73-57, to give the team it's first state berth since 2005.

Huen said the senior class was close. He said they knew each other's strengths and weaknesses and how to feed off each other.

Everyone of the seniors knew their role and performed it well.

Huen was a defensive stopper on the perimeter, Deason was a slasher and rebounder and Winterboer helped handle the point and provide outside shooting. Olsan became a dangerous weapon both off the drive and from 3-point range, Odden was a great complementary player to leading scorer Connor Drew in the post and Wohlgemuth provided quality support off the bench.

It was only fitting that all five seniors that played in the state quarterfinals ended up scoring.

“It's sad to see it end, we've had such a good time together,” Huen said. “I've definitely enjoyed the ride - I'll never forget it.”

Deason's dad - Chris - is Ballard's head coach. He said it was a pleasure to play for his father and help guide the team back to state in his final run.

“Het taught me the game,” Isaiah Deason said. “The opportunity I had to play under him was just phenomenal.”

That makes it extra hard for the Bomber coach to see this group of seniors go.

“Being around these guys for the last 10 years, I love everyone of them,” Chris Deason said. I'm so glad they got to finish their careers at Wells. That's a huge deal - to be one of the eight teams left. Very proud of them.”

But even though they're leaving, their legacy will have a lasting impact on the program. Winterboer provided a great example of perseverance the younger kids can learn from when he fought through a season-long shooting slump to nail six 3-pointers in the big substate win over Pella.

With Drew, the team's top scorer and rebounder, returning in the post and fellow sophomore Mason Murphy back to run the post Ballard has great building blocks for next year as they look to make what the senior class started this season into an annual tradition.

“This is the goal,” Chris Deason told the team after the loss to Norwalk. “Hopefully this ignites the fire in you to want to get down here and be here regularly.”

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